Wire stripping tool



March 5, 1963 H. o. J. BENOlT WIRE STRIPPING TOOL Filed July 7, 1960 mow 2 N mm M vw mm W6C mm mm mm N 2 J m 2 2 l1 n Fm E S I 1. mm

INVENTOR. HOR CE .J. BEND/7' ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,080,469WIRE STRIPPING TOOL Horace 0. J. Benoit, 24 S. Kingsley Drive, LosAngeles, Calif. Filed July 7, 1960, Ser. No. 41,440 6 Claims. (Cl.219-29) This invention relates to a wire stripper and more particularlyto a heated wire stripping tool which can readily be combined with asoldering iron or built into a soldering iron to form a combinationsoldering iron and wire stripping tool, for the purpose of strippingthermoplastic insulation from electrical wire.

With the use of plastic insulations on electrical wire it has beenfound, in order to strip insulation from the wire, to be more desirableto sever a band around the insulation and to melt the insulation ratherthan to cut the insulation with a knife or other tool thus avoidingdamage to the wire itself.

In present day assembly practices, it is frequently necessary, whileworking on a wiring job, that the operator in going from step to step inelectrical assembly, use both a soldering iron and a wire insulationstripper. Thus two separate tools must be readily available for use.This is time consuming, tires the operator and often in changing tools,causes damage to the Wire and often results in errors in soldering.

One object of this invention is to provide a heated Wire stripping handtool which is made either integral with a soldering iron as acombination tool or can be made as a separate unit and be attached to asoldering iron, and which can then become a combination soldering ironand Wire stripper.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a combination solderingiron and wire stripping hand tool which can be held in the operatorshand and .the severing and the stripping of the insulation from the wirebe accomplished by the use of the one hand holding the tool.

' Briefly described, this invention embodies a heated wire insulationstripper provided with threads on one end thereof, adapted to replacethe conventional set screw used for retaining the soldering tip in theelectrical resistance heater element. A finger actuated back up, adaptedfor mounting on or made integral with the heater element of thesoldering iron, is provided to support the wire during the melting orcircumferential severing of the insulation and also serves the purposeof gripping the insulation during its stripping from the wire.

lOther objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe discussion proceeds and when considered in connection with theaccompanying claims and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan view partially in section of a conventionalsoldering iron with one form of stripper embodying my invention mountedon the iron;

FIGURE 2 shows a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows an enlarged plan view partially in section of a modifiedform of the heated wire stripper embodying my invention; and

FIGURE 4 shows another modification of a simplified heated wirestripping head combined with the soldering tip and heater element toform a combination soldering iron and wire stripping hand -tool.

Turning now to a more detailed description of my invention, the numeral5 designates generally a conventional hand soldering iron and which hasa customary handle 7, preferably provided with a cork or insulated guard8 located adjacent a resistance element 9 into which a soldering tip 10is inserted. All of this is conventional and is wcllknown in the art. Asit forms no portion of this invention, it is deemed unnecessary torequire additional detailed description. The tip 10 is held in place bymeans of an Allen set screw, located at hole 11.

In FIGURE 1, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, theconventional Allen set screw inserted in hole 11 is replaced by a heatedinsulation severing head 12, which is provided with a screw thread 13 onone end thereof formed integral with the head 12. A V notch 14 isprovided in the head 12, as shown, to form one jaw of a pair of jaws.

A finger actuated unit designated generally by the numeral 16 comprisesa U-shapcd clamping member 18 which, in the preferred embodiment of myinvention shown in FIGURE 1, is held in place on the resistance element9 by means of a pair of bolts 20. Inserted into the upper body portionof the U-shaped clamp 13 is a reciprocating plunger or bar 22. On theend of reoiprocating bar 22 is a jaw 24, which is provided with a Vnotch 26 complementary to and which coacts with the V notch 14 of theheated insulation severing head 12. On the opposite end of reciprocatingplunger 22, is provided a spring 26, which is securely attached at oneend to the reciprocating plunger 22 and the other end of spring 26 isconnected, in any suitable manner, to a finger pressed actuating lever2s. Preferably, a thumb rest 30 is provided on the opposite end of lever28. At the top portion of the U-shaped clamping member 18 there isprovided :a bearing member 32, on which the actuating lever 28 ispivotally supported. Also mounted on the reciprocating plunger 22 is apin 34. A complementary pin 36' is also provided on the upper surface ofthe U- shaped clamping member 18 as shown in both FIGURES 1 and 2.Connecting the two pins 34 and 36 is a spring 38, which returns theplunger 22 to its inoperative position.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURES 1and 2 is as follows: The U- shaped clamping member 18 is mounted on theresistance heating element 9 and is held in place thereby by screws 20,as best shown in FIGURE 2. The entire finger actuated unit 16 is alignedon the resistance heating element 9 so that the jaw 24 is so positionedas to slidingly co-act with the jaw 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Theactuating lever 22 whenpressed downward by means of the thumborforefinger placed on the thumb rest 30 causes the reciprocating plunger22, together with the jaw 24 to move toward the heated severing jaw 12.When the actuating lever 28 is depressed and the reciprocating jaw 22 ismoved toward the jaw 12, the opening formed by theV notches 14 and 26 isclosed around the insulated wire, which is first inserted throughthisopening. At this step the wire preferably should be rotated in this Vnotch opening in both jaws just slightly to completely melt awaythe'entire insulating material touching the notches 14 and 26. After avery slight pause in this turning action, the plastic wire insulation isthen completely melted he band down to the wire and the wire is thengently pulled sideways of the stripping tool until the end of theinsulation is cleanly and simply stripped away from the wire, afterwhich operation the soldering tip can, without replacing or picking upanother tool, be used to complete the desired soldering operation. 7

It is to be noted that the inner faces of the V notches 14 and 26 shouldbe blunted, in order to avoid unintentionally nicking or cutting thewire surface. As an additional guard against excessive pressure on thewire thus weakening it, the spring '27 is provided between thereciprocating plunger 22 and the lever 28. This spring 27 permits thenotches 14 and 26 to partly close, but does not allow them to closetight enough against the wire to cause any damage thereto. In thisconnection it is to be understood that if desired various forms of,limit stops could be used, such as a plurality of elongated slotsprovided in the sides 13 of the support 16 and holes in thereciprocating plunger 22 into. which a pin or pins could beinserted,thus providing stops? for varioussizewires. However, it' has beenthisinventors experience that the operators of wire stripping tools arecareless and, reluctantto change the setting of wire stripping toolswhen various dimension wires "are being strippedtherefore, such apositive guard, against damage to the wire has been, foundto-be lessdesirable than thespringS-T. 7

Turning now'to a detailed description of the modification of myinvention embodied. in the form shown in- FIGURE 3; the conventionalsoldering iron ispartially shownwiththe resistance heating element 91and thesoldering tip 10 broken away andin portion only. The heatedseveringhead and jaw 12, in; this embodimen-Lis replacedby' ta modifiedform of heated'severing head and jaw designated generally by the numeral40-. This head,

it-will be seen-from studying thedraw-ing in FIGURE 3,

in placerof :being provided with a single V-shaped notch 14, isprovidedwith a plurality of V notches 42. Each V: notch:42,qasillustrated,isprovided with a; different width opening and of a different depth toaccommodate different size wires. In. additionto the \L notches: 42;; asshown, there is also provided'a singleV- notch 44, This purpose of theV'notch 44 can best be understood a by referring tothe-modificationrillustratedin FIGURE 4- and will be explained indetail-in connectionwiththe; explanation ofthe modification. relatingtoFIGURE 4.

The fingeractuated unit designated genetrallyrby thenumeral 16 of theform showninFIGURE 1 is: identical to that shown in FIGURE 3., The only:change, being. made is the-particular shape. and positioning of the jaw-24.- The jaw of the modification sh wn-in-FIGURE 3 is designated by thenumeral 46. In place of having, the V- notch 26. provide therein andimplace of, reciprocating; in sliding contact with the heated headelement 40 comes toabutmentaagainst the edge-thereof andrthusautomatically, prevents damage to the; Wire" during the severing; 40 ofthe insulation. This safety'featureof' the, tongue 46- makes-itnecessary to -provide various sizeV notches 42'" to accommodate,diiferent size wires; The single V notch 14 andwthe heated severing head12, ShOWIlziIl? FIGURE 1 makes, asafermanner in stripping; the wire, but"requires,- 45

more,- careful attention and sensitive: technique upon the,- part of theoperator? and the use of! one or thesothen types of actuating; andstripping; mechanism depends .upon; the'particulancircumstances for.which; the tool is to be: used. a r In the modification shown inFIGURE14- there-is illusa trated a very simple. combination solderingironqand heated wire stripping tool; Thiscombination tool'consistszofthe conventional resisting heating element 9* and a; solderingtips 10.Asin theemhodiment shown inZFIG- URES l and- 2, the conventional Allenscrew is-replaceda I by a means of a single heated severingjhead 48ononeend; 'ofwhich is provided'threads; 50;, The threads 50* of the:

modified form of, severing head '48 are screwedeintoithe heatedresistance element 91in place-of. theconventionali 00 vAllen'screw-andhold'the soldering tip l0 iniheating ele-1 ment-9 as in the embodimentshown in FIGURE 1i Theheated severing head 48 isprovidedwith a V notch52': shown: and illustrated here as a simple straight V notch.-

However, it is to be understood that theshapei-of this;

notch is not material to I the scope: of invention; and can; be;modified to contour or; outline roundwires: or, evemfla-t wires asdesired; 'In'this same'connection, at tention. is invited to'themodification shown inFIGURE '3 and the V notchn44-of this modificationwhichis-for the: same identical purpose-as V notch 52 ofthe embodimentshown in'FIGURE'4. 7

The operation of the comhinatiomsoldering ironand. heated wirestripper.shown, in EIGURE. 4.is,simJp; y that. the V notch 52.heing turnedparallel to the soldering the wire by pulling the wire sideways throughthe V.

While it is convenient to. hold the wire in the notch 52 with the thumb,which of course is provided with a heat insulation material such asasbestos or the like,..it also has been round convenient to provide asimple metal or ceramic block with-grooves therein andwith across notchof a size into which the tip 48 and the V notch 52 can fit over a wireand. the inserted end of the notch. (None of'the blook is'shown as itforms no part ofthi-sinvem. ti0n.): The notch 44. of. the heatedsevering head shown in- FIGUREVB: operates in. the same, manner and isprovidedin case it isdesired to strip. a wireiof a size not provided forin the notches 42.shown\ in, FIGURE 3.

Ihezembodiment ofi-my. invention. illustrated in FIG- UREA. providesavery simple. and. inexpensive combination wire. stripper and solderingiron. It is deemed appropriate totpointouthere that the heat for theheated severing. heads or. jaws.12,,4( and. 48 isconducted'trorn. theresistance heating element 9' in'exact'ly thesame manner asthehcatisconducted tothe. conventional solder- It is to. be understood thatvarious'. changesin shape and materialcan beresorted. to' withoutdeparting from the spirit: of my--inveirtionas set forth in theappended.

claims; a r

I claim:

1. A combination heatedvwire stripping; tool 7 and soldering ironcomprising ahandle, an el'ectri'cal'resist anceheating element in saidhandle, a soldering tip in said resistance element, a heated wirestrippingelement forming a stationary jaw rnounted on said resistanceele. ment, a. reciprocating. jaw mounted on said resistance 7 elementpositioned to co-act with .saidlwire, strippingelement, actuating. meansmounted, on said resistance elementassociated with saidreciprocatingjawfor moving, the: latter, jaw toward said stationary. jaw andresilient L means associatedrwith said. actuating means limiting the.extent of travel of said reciprocating, jaw toward said,

stationary jaw thereby. preventing. damage to the wire heingstripped. I.7 j

2.,A combination. heated .wire. stripping tool' and soldering ironcomprising ahandle, an. electrical resistlance heatingelernent insaidhandle, asolderingtip in, said resistance element; a. heated, wirestripping element forming a stationary jaw mounted on said resistanceele-,.

ment, a bracket mounted on. said resistance element, a

reciprocating hanin said Ibracket, a reciprocating jaw on said baraligned. for sliding co-action with said heated wire stripping element,anoperating lever associated with saidreciprocatingabar for moving saidreciprocating jaw 1 toward the stationary. jaw onlsaidphracket andresilient. means interposed between and connecting said'lever tosaid-reciprocating bar adapted to .actuatingly connect said operatinglever and saidibar and also lirnitthe extenttol which said jaws areclosedv aroundv the wire being.

stripped.

ciprocating jaw tfOI' moving the latter toward said sta tionary jaw,resilient means interposed between andfconw n'ecting. said actuatingmeans to said reciprocating jaw limiting the extent of travel of saidreciprocating jaw toward said stationary jaw, and .means for mountingsaid stripping eleme'nt on a heating element of. a soldering.

iron. r t

3. A heated wire stripping tool comprising aheatedwire stripping elementforming a Statl01'13fy' jaW,ia*I- ciprocating; jaw positioned .to co-actwith saidwirestn'paping element, actuating means associated with saidre?- aosaaea my jaw, resilient means interposed between one end of saidreciprocating jaw and said actuating means limiting the extent of travelof said reciprocating jaw toward said stationary jaw, and means formounting said stripping element on a heating element of a solderingiron.

5. A heated wire stripping tool comprising a heated wire strippingelement forming a stationary jaw, a supporting bracket, a reciprocatingbar in said bracket, a reciprocating jaw on said bar aligned for slidingco-action with said heated wire stripping element, an operating leverassociated with said reciprocating jaw for moving the latter toward saidstationary jaw on said bracket and resilient means interposed betweenand connecting said lever to said reciprocating bar adapted to limit theextent to which said jaws are closed around the wire being stripped,said tool being adapted to be mounted on the resistance heating elementof a soldering iron to form a combination heated wire stripper andsoldering iron tool.

6. A combination heated wire stripping tool and soldering ironcomprising a handle, an electric resistance heating element in saidhandle, a soldering tip in said resistance element, a heated wirestripping element having a plurality of dilferent sized V notchestherein, a slideable reciprocating jaw mounted on said resistanceheatins element positioned to co-act with said wire stripping elernentand actuating means mounted on said resistance element being associatedwith said reciprocating jaw for moving the latter jaw toward said heatedwire stripping element having a plurality of notches therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,595,799 Massingham Aug. 10, 1926 2,520,692 Marshall Dec. 9, 19522,763,170 Karem Sept. 18, 1956 2,995,052 Funcik Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGNPATENTS 557,307 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1943 581,618 Great Britain Oct.18, 1946 611,822 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1948 920,918 Germany Dec. 2, 1954

1. A COMBINATION HEATED WIRE STRIPPING TOOL AND SOLDERING IRONCOMPRISING A HANDLE, AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT IN SAIDHANDLE, A SOLDERING TIP IN SAID RESISTANCE ELEMENT, A HEATED WIRESTRIPPING ELEMENT FORMING A STATIONARY JAW MOUNTED ON SAID RESISTANCEELEMENT, A RECIPROCATING JAW MOUNTED ON SAID RESISTANCE ELEMENTPOSITIONED TO CO-ACT WITH SAID WIRE STRIPPING ELEMENT, ACTUATING MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID RESISTANCE ELEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RECIPROCATINGJAW FOR MOVING THE LATTER JAW TOWARD SAID STATIONARY JAW AND RESILIENTMEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS LIMITING THE EXTENT OF TRAVELOF SAID RECIPROCATING JAW TOWARD SAID STATIONARY JAW THEREBY PREVENTINGDAMAGE TO THE WIRE BEING STRIPPED.